The Madras high court has imposed a blanket ban on cow slaughter in Tamil Nadu, directing the state government to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered on the eve of Bakrid or “on any other day”.
Allowing a PIL filed by Coimbatore resident K Surya Prasanth seeking to prevent the slaughter of cows in public places, a vacation bench of Justices G R Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan directed the chief secretary and the additional DGP (law and order) “to issue suitable instructions to all the officials concerned to ensure that there is no breach of this order”.
The petitioner submitted that he was compelled to move the court after arrangements were allegedly being made for ‘qurbani’ (sacrifice) of cows and calves during Bakrid in areas that were not designated slaughterhouses.
Referring to Article 48 of the Constitution, the bench observed that the State is obligated to take steps to prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle. “During the debates in the Constituent Assembly, it was pointed out that the cow is a revered animal and that it has been associated with our civilisation from the time of Lord Krishna. During the rule of many Muslim kings, cow slaughter was abolished,” the bench said.
The judges also referred to an undated government order prohibiting the slaughter of cows and heifers “in all the slaughter houses in Tamil Nadu” “in the interest of milk production and the improvement of rural economy”.
Reiterating that the order has the force of law and must be enforced, the bench posted the matter to May 29 for compliance.
In a related development, the vacation bench reiterated that the ban would apply not just on the eve of Eid al-Adha but “on any other day” as well.
Tensions in Maharashtra:
Ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations, Mumbai Police on Wednesday confirmed that the ritual of goat sacrifice (Qurbani) has been cancelled at a housing society in Goregaon following a clash between two communities over the issue.
Officials stated that the livestock will be removed from the society premises tomorrow morning to ensure law and order in the area.
Tension had prevailed at Satellite Gardens Phase 2 in the Gokuldham area as members of the two communities faced off over the Qurbani ritual, as residents expressed strong objections to the practice within the residential complex.
Representing the Muslim side, residents claimed they had acquired Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) permission to perform the Qurbani in the society. They asserted that while the ritual has been a long-standing practice for years, they had been unable to observe it at the site for the past two seasons.
The opposing side argued that designated facilities for Bakra Qurbani should be utilised and raised concerns regarding hygiene and the potential impact on public health within the society, stressing that it will cause the spread of diseases in society.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Clashes broke out in Mira Road's Poonam Cluster Society after residents protested against the presence of goats brought inside the premises for sacrifice ahead of Eid Al-Adha, prompting heavy police deployment to restore order in the area on Tuesday.
Tensions escalated outside the housing society, with allegations and counter-allegations between two groups, leading to a confrontation that turned violent.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mira-Bhayandar, Rahul Chauhan, said the matter was discussed in a meeting after objections were raised, following which the municipal corporation designated a separate location for the activity.
He added that residents mutually agreed to shift the goats from the society to the designated site, after which the situation was brought under control.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is a major Islamic holiday that honours Prophet Ibrahim's absolute obedience to God. The central practice of the festival is Qurbani, which involves the ritual slaughter of healthy livestock, such as sheep, goats with the meat subsequently distributed to family, friends, and those in need.
